Retractile antenna mast assembly



P 23, 1952 G. E. BADER 2,611,456

RETRACTILE ANTENNA MAST ASSEMBLY Filed May 15, 1949 2 SI-IEETSSIIEET 1 Sept. 23, 1952 G. E. BADER RETRACTILE ANTENNA MAST ASSEMBLY Filed May 13, 1949 2 Sl-IEETS-SI-IEET 2 IN/ENTOR.

CF/AL/S E. .519 05/? A 7'70fi/VEXS w HUME.

Patented Sept. 23, 1 952 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims. 1

. This. invention relates 'to radio antenna or aerial masts, and more particularly to a retractile antenna mast assembly which can be mounted on the ground or other substantially horizontal supporting surface, and extended to any desired height, and can be raised and lowered, when desired.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide alight weight and simplified antenna mast assembly which can be based on the ground rather than on a roof or other elevated support, and will carry the antenna at an elevationas high or higher than the antenna would be carried "by a roof-mounted mast structure, which mast assembly is easy and simple to assemble and erect, and can be placedin operative condition in a very short time for demonstrations and testing, which can be completely assembled, erected and repaired from the ground without the necessity ofanyone climbing any part of the mast assembly or using ,a ladder, which is strong and wind resistant when erected, and may be quickly lowered, if desired,- in-the event of storms of unusual force, such as; hurricanes and tornados, which canbeoperated from the ground to properly orientate and otherwise position the antenna for short-wave and television reception and which is economical to manufacture and neat and attractive in appearance. 1

Other objects and advantages will become apparentfrom a consideration of the following description and the appended-claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical elevation of the antenna mast assembly in erected condition;

Figure? is-a perspective view of a fragmentary top portion of the mast assembly showing the manner of mounting the antenna thereon;

1 Figure 3 is a'trainsverse cross-section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure' l-is a side elevation of a fragmentary portion of the mast assembly at an intermediate position lengthwise of the assembly showing the manner of attaching a guy wire to one side of the assembly;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures showing the manner of attaching two guy wires to the opposite side of the assembly; v v--Figure 6 is an elevation on a somewhat enlarged scale of a fragmentary, intermediate portion offl the antenna mast assembly, parts being broken away and shown in cross-section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure.'l is an elevation ofafragmentary portion of the. assembly below the-portion-illustrated Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-section on the line 8--8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a transverse cross-section on the line 99 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is an elevation of a fragmentary lower portion of the assembly and a longitudinal cross-section of the assembly base;

Figure 11 is an elevation of a fragmentary, intermediate portion of the assembly; a

Figure 12 is a longitudinal cross-section on the line 12-12 of Figurell;

Figure 13 is a transverse cross-section on the line 13-43 of Figure 11; I V

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view of the assembly in-fully retracted condition, indicating in broken lines, a partially-erected condition of the assembly;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view of the assembly in partially-erected condition;

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view of the assembly in fully-erected condition; and

Figure 17 is a transverse cross-section on the line lll'| of Figure 6.

With continued reference to the drawings, the antenna mast assembly of the invention comprises, in general, a ground-engaging base ID. a derrick structure I I pivotally connected at one end to the base It) and adjustable thereon, a tubular guide 12 pivotally connected to the opposite end of the derrick structure, a tubular mast shaft I3 slidably received in the guide 1'2, antenna M on one end of the shaft i3, a socket I5 on the, derrick structure II for receiving the opposite end of the shaft, a set of guy wires I6 connected to the derrick structure II at the guide-carrying end of the latter, a set of guy wires I? connected to the shaft 13 betweenthe guide l2 and the antenna l4, and, depending upon the length of the shaft l3, additional sets o uy wires, as exemplified at 18.

The base II] is an elongated body of suitable material, such as wood or concrete, and is pref-erably set into the ground, so that it will be firmly held in position: Two spacedeapart ring bo1ts'l9 and Zfl extend through the base II] with their bolt-receiving eyes'or rings positioned just above the top surface of the base. Y

The derrick structure 'H is'a ladder-like struc-:- ture having a pair of side rails 2| and 22 which gradually converge from the wider,'lower end to the narrow, pper end of the structure substantially symmetrical with the longitudinal center-line of the structure, and aplurality of spaced-apart, transversely-extending rungs or braces 23 secured at their opposite ends to the side rails 21 and 2 2 respectively.

Eye bolts 24 and '25 are secured in the ends of the side rails 2| and 22 respectively, at the Wider, lower end of the derrick structure in position to lie between the ring bolts [9 and 29 secured to the base l0, and a rod or bolt 29 extends through all of the ring bolts to pivotally connect the derrick structure II to the base In for movement of the derrick structure between a substantially horizontal and a substantially vertical position.

An axle 21, having a semi-circular bend substantially at its mid-length location is secured to the tubular guide sleeve l2 substantially at the mid-length location of the latter, the guide sleeve being received in the semi-circular bend of the axle, and the axle extends, at its opposite ends, through apertures provided in the side rails 2| and 22 respectively, near the narrower, upper end of the derrick stucture to pivotally connect the guide sleeve to the derrick structure for rotational or tilting movements of the guide sleeve about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal center lines of the derrick structure and of the guide sleeve l2.

Ring plates 28 and 29 are secured to the outer sides of the side rails 2| and 22 respectively,:near the upper end of the derrick'structure, one of these plates, for example, the plate 28 having two rings thereon and the alternative plate having a single ring. The set of guy wires I6 is secured at the upper ends to the rings of the plates 28 and. 29, two wires being secured to the plate 28 and a single wire to the plate 29. The lower ends of these guy wires being disposed outwardly of the base I when the derrick structure is erected and spaced apart at substantially equal angular intervals of 120-degrees.

The tubular mast shaft I3 is slidably and rotatably received in the guide sleeve l2 and is a sectional structure made up of lengths of suitable metal tubing disposed in end-to-end relationship and secured together at abutting ends by suitable joint fittings as shown at 39 and 3!. The joint fitting 30 comprises a structure such as a pair of curved, apertured plates receiving abutting end portions of two tube lengths constituting a part of the shaft l3, and a pair of bolts 32 extending through these plates and through the adjoining shaft sections or tube lengths respectively, near the abuttingends of the latter. This joint fitting provides a quick detachable fitting for the tube section immediately above the sections slidably received in the guide sleeve l 2.

The joint fitting 3|, and other joint fittings of the tubular shaft assembly, may be conventional, screw-threaded bushings or collars which may be positioned either outside or inside the tubular sections.

The antenna l4 may be of any usual or desired construction for the reception of particular broadcast signals, and constitutes no part of the present invention, except in the combination thereof with the supporting mast assembly. Such an antenna may comprise a stem 9, a T or cross-fitting 33 on one end of the stem and having one leg secured to the top of the stem, and a pair of arms 34 and 35 secured at their adjacent ends in oppositely-extending legs of the fitting 33 and carrying the antenna devices Id at their outer ends. The end of stem 9 opposite fitting 33 is telescopically associated with the upper end of shaft 13 and may be secured by a through pin or other suitable device.

- A stop collar 36 receives the shaft I3 below the fitting 33 and is held in adjusted position longitudinally of the shaft by suitable means,

such as the set screw 31 threaded through a screw-threaded aperture in the collar and bearing against the shaft, and a guy wire bracket 38 is rotatably mounted on the shaft immediately above the stop collar 36. This bracket comprises a tubular portion receiving the shaft l3, and three apertured lugs 39 extending radially outwardly from the tubular portionat substantially equal angular intervals of approximately degrees. The guy wires of the set I! may be connected at their upper ends to the lugs 39 respectively, and these guy wires are secured at theirlower ends to the ground outwardly of the base [0 and at angular intervals of approximately 120-degrees.

If the third set of guy wires I8 is utilized, the stop collar 36 and bracket 38 assembly may be duplicated at a location along the shaft 1 3 above the attachment point of the wires of the set 18, and the lower ends of the wiresof this thirdset of guy wires will be secured to the ground in the same manner outwardly of the base In and separated by substantially equal angular intervals of 120-degrees.

The socket I5 is a tubular body having anlend. wall 38 closing its bottom end, and a hook '39 secured to one side thereof and positioned .to hook over any selected .one of .the transverse braces 23 near the-bottom end of the denial: structure ll.

In assembling and erecting the device, with :the derrick structure fiat on the ground the wider end of this structure is placed on the base ll with the ring bolts 24 and 25 on the derrick'structure matching the corresponding bolts I9 and M) on the base and the rod 26 is then extended through the registering eyes of the ring boltszto pivotally connect the derrick structure at its wider end to the base. The axle 21 is then installed on the narrower end of the derrick structure by placing the ends of the axles in the notches or apertures in the corresponding ends of the side rails of the derrick structure and securing the axle in position by suitable means, such as the bolts or pins 49 extending transversely through the side rails and across the notches therein between the axle and the adjacent ends of the side rails.

This disposes the guide sleeve l2 between the side rails for rotational movements about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the derrick structure.

The tubular shaft 1 3 is now completely assembled except for the antenna assembly and one end to the smaller end of the derrick structure 12. The guy wires l6 are attached each at one end of the smaller end of the derrick structure and a line 4| comprising a twisted or braided copper wire cable is secured at one end to the tubular shaft l3, at the end of the shaft which has been passed through the guide sleeve-l2. The tubular shaft I3 is then slid through the guide sleeve until the first joint collar or coupling 3i on the tubular shaft engages the normally upper end of the guide sleeve 12. By holding the tubular shaft 13 near the end thereof remote from the line 4| and using the shaft as a push pole with the coupling 3| limiting movement of the shaft through the sleeve I2, the derrick structure H can be brought to substantially vertical position. i

The guy wires 16 are now made secure at their lower ends to hold the derrick structure in vertical position extending upwardly from the base It). The antenna assembly [4 is now mounted on the shaft. l3 at the-endof the latter remote from line and the depending line 4!. is pulled downwardly raising the. antenna assembly and lowering the end of the shaft I3towhich theline 4! is connected untilthe' shaft is substantially vertically disposed. 3 1:;

At this point clamp collar 42, having a radially:- projecting, screw-threaded stem 43 is slid intothe tubular shaft l3 and anorienting handwheel 44 is then slid ontotheshaft andsecuredwtouthe shaft, near the endof thelatterzto which-the cable4l is attached, by. asuitable screw or *pin 45:extending through the hub of the-wheel and either piercing or contacting the tubular. shaft I3. The tubular shaft I3 is then brought toa substantially vertical position and is slightly raised, so that its lower end can be dropped into the socket i5. An elongated slot 4-6 is provided in one of the braces 23 intermediate the length of the latter, and at the time the lower end of the tubular shaft I3 is dropped into the socket [5, the screw-threaded stem 43 of the clamp .ring 42 is brought through this slot 48. A manuallyrotatable nut 41, such as a wagon end-gate nut. is threaded onto the stem 43 and when tightened, will hold the tubular shaft 13 against rotation. Theheight of the antenna above the ground may be adjusted by selectively positioning-the socket IS on the transverse braces near the bottom end of the derrick and, if necessary, one or more tube lengths or tubular sections can be added to the lower end of shaft 13 after this shaft has been brought to substantially vertical position.

A pointer 48 is secured to one .of the side rails, for example, the side rail 2|, in alignment with the rim of the handwheel44, and the handwheel is provided with indicia, such as compass points, as indicated in Figure 9, with which the pointer cooperates to indicate the direction at which the antenna I4 is set. With the nut 41 loosened, the wheel 44 can be manually rotated until properly positioned relative to the pointer 48, whereupon the nut 41 is tightened to clamp the tubular shaft I I3 in the selected rotational position.

After the lower end of the tubular shaft is dropped into the socket l5, the copper cable 4| is carried down to the ground and connected to a suitable grounding device, such as a water pipe or a. piece of metal driven deeply into the ground.

When it is necessary to work on the antenna, it is only necessary to raise the lower end of the tubular shaft I3 from the socket l5, removing the nut 41, and lower the upper end of the tubular shaft until the antenna is brought into convenient reach of a person standing on the ground, the guy Wires attached to the tubular shaft, of course, being released for this operation. After the antenna has been repaired, the tubular shaft may be returned to its vertical position, its lower end dropped in the socket 15, the clamp collar stem 43 re-inserting through the slot 46, the nut 41 applied and the antenna wires re-connected to their ground connections. In order to completely collapse or retract the antenna mast, after the tubular shaft has been lowered, as indicated above, the guy wires supporting the derrick structure H are loosened and, using the tubular shaft as a pole, the upper end of the derrick structure is lowered until the entire assembly lies fiat on the ground.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the

scope ofthe invention being indicatedby-the ape pended claims rather than'by. the. foregoing .de-. scription, and all changes which come within the meaning. and range of equivalency of the .claims are, therefore, intended tobe embraced therein.

i What is claimed is:-.j- 1- g 1. A retractile antennamast assembly comprising a fixed support, ,afirst' mast section -se curedatone end to-said fixed supportformovement, about a substantially horizontal axis, a guide-secured to said-first mast sectionatits other end forswinging movements about an axis substantially parallel'to said horizontal axis, a second mast section longer-than said first mast section having its longitudinal center line substantially in a plane perpendicular to. said axes and including the longitudinal center line of said first mast section, said guide engaging said second mast section for longitudinal sliding movement of said second mast section relative to said guide, an abutment carried by said second mast section intermediate the length thereof and bearing against said guide at one end of the latter to enable said second mast section to function as a push pole manually raising said other end of said first mast section. to move the latter from-=a substantially horizontal position to .an upright position, guy. Wires secured to said first mast section at said other end thereof supporting said first mast section-in upright-position, a stranddepending from oneend-of said second mastsection for-manually pulling said one end downwardlyand swinging said-second mast section about the axis of movement of said guide to an upright position after said first mast section has been secured in upright. position, said strand constituting a ground wire for the antenna mast, said second mast section being adapted to carry an antenna on the upper end thereof, socket means interconnecting said first and second mast sections atthe bottom endof said second mast section after the latter has been moved to upright position supporting: said second ,mast section in longitudinal, alignment with said first mast section and in a. selected-p0.- sition of longitudinal adjustment of the second relative to the first mast section, and a set of guy wires connected at one end to said second mast section near said other end of the latter supporting said second mast section in upright position.

2. A retractile antenna mast assembly com prising a fixed support, a first mast section secured at one end to said fixed support for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, a guide secured to said first mast section at the other end of the latter for swinging movements about an axis substantially parallel to said horizontal axis, a second mast section longer than said first mast section having its longitudinal center line substantially in a plane perpendicular to said axes and including the longitudinal center line of said first mast section, said guide engaging said second mast section for longitudinal sliding movement of said second mast section relative to said guide, an abutment carried by said second mast section intermediate thelength thereof and engaging said guide at one end of the latter to enable said second mast section to function as a push. pole for manually raising said other end of said first mast section to move the latter from a substantially horizontal to an upright position, guy wires secured to said first mast section at said other end thereof supporting said first mast section in upright position,

7 9.:strand1 depending from: one. end. of said second mast: section for manually pulling. said one; end of. said secondmast section downwardly about the 'axis of movement of'said guide to-an upright position" after said firstmast section hasbeen secured in upright position, said strand constituting a ground wire-for the antenna mast, said second mast section being adapted-"to carryan antenna on the upper end thereof, socket means interconnecting said. first and second mast-sections-at the bottom end of said second mast S86, firm after the latter has been moved lie-upright position supporting saidsecond mast section in longitudinal alignment with said first mast section and in a selected position of longitudinal adjustment of the second relative to the first mast section, and asetiof guy wires connected :at one" end: to saidsecond mast section near said other end of the latter supportingsaid second mast section in upright position, said first mast section comprising a brace structure and said second mast section comprising a plurality of tube lengths joined together in end to end relationship.

'3'; Av retractile antenna mast assembly comprising a 'eflxed' support, a first mast section secured at one end to said fixed support for movement; about a substantially horizontal axis, a guide secured to said first mast section at the other endof the latter for swinging movements about-an axis substantially parallel to said horizontal axis, a second mast section longer than said first mast section and having its longitudinal. center line-substantially in a plane perpendicular: toisaidv axes and including the longitudinalcenter. line of said first mast section, said guide engaging said second mast section for longitudinal sliding movement of said second mast section relative to said guide, an abutment carried by saidsecond mast section intermediate thezlengththereof and bearingagainst said guide at one end of the latter to enable said second mast: section to function as a push pole for manually raising-said other end of said first mast section to move the latter from a substantially 8 lmnzontalipositiorr ta an: upright; nositiom. gun wiresf'secured; to said: first.- mast. section; at: said other end thereof. supporting said first; mast sectionsnr upright position, a strand; depending from one: end; of" said. second. mast; section. for manually pulling said one end downwardly and swinging said. second. mast. section; about: the axis: of. movement; of said guide to an upright position after said-:iirst mast section hasbeen secured; in upright; position, said: strand CODSU: tutingfa. ground wirefor the. antenna. mast; said second mast section. being adapted; to. carry. an antenna. mounted on the. upper. end. thereof, socket-means interconnecting said firstandi sec..- ond mastse'ctions at the. bottom end. 01 said second" mast section: after the. latter. has. been moved. to upright position. supporting said second mast section inlongitudinal alignment with. said first-mast section and in aselected; position of longitudinal adjustment of said. second relative to said: first mast section; a set, of' guy. wires connected atone: endto. said second mast: sec.- tion near the other. end thereof supporting said second mast section in upright position, and hand operated means connected to. said second mast section adjacent said socket: means for. impartin'g rotational movement tosaid second: mast section While the latter isxheldin upright position.

' GILLIS. E. BADER.

REEEBENCES. CITED The following references are of record in the file of this; patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. N ame- Date 253,743. Mensing Feb. 14, 1882 275,689; Mitchell Apr. 10, 1883 465,079 Walton Dec. 15, 1891 799,220. Booze etal'. Sept. 12; 1905 485,883. Perry Nov. 8,1905

1,132,303 Cmr' Mar. 16, 1915 1,575,040. Crum1 Mar. 2-, 1926 1,963,014 Brown June 12,1943 2,365,900 Newkirk:- Dec. 26, 1944 

